Marine Science

College of Science and Engineering
Dean: 

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
8272 Moss Landing Road
Moss Landing, CA 95039
831-632-4400
Fax: 831-632-4403
E-mail: frontdesk@mlml.calstate.edu
Website: http://color.mlml.calstate.edu/www/mlml.htm
Acting Director: Kenneth Coale
Assistant Director: Gail Johnston

Program

M.S. in Marine Science

Program Scope

This degree program is administered by the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML) in cooperation with seven consortium campuses that are affiliated with MLML, including San Francisco State University. This degree provides the opportunity for students to acquire a practical and theoretical education in the marine sciences to prepare them for careers as marine technicians, research scientists, and teachers. The program at MLML provides extensive field and laboratory work for advanced study in the marine sciences.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MARINE SCIENCE

Admission to the Program

Students can choose Biology, Geosciences, or another appropriate department at San Francisco State University. The prospective student must meet the entrance requirements for that department and be accepted into conditionally classified graduate status. (Refer to the appropriate Bulletin section for the department of interest.) The student will become classified upon completion of MLML’s requirements. Completed graduate applications must be received at MLML by October 15 for the spring semester and March 15 for the fall semester. Different departments have different application deadlines, and prospective students must contact the selected campus department to insure that his/her application meets both the San Francisco State University deadline and the MLML deadline. All students must be registered through one of the seven consortium campuses to attend MLML.

Classes at MLML are open to properly qualified upper division undergraduate and graduate students enrolled through the consortium campuses. Application information is available from the admissions offices at the consortium campuses or from the Laboratories.

Fully Classified Status in the Program

A conditionally classified student may become fully classified in the marine science program as set forth in the following steps:

• Obtain an adviser at MLML by the third semester and one from the appropriate science department at SFSU. Each new student in the master's program at MLML will be assigned an adviser who may or may not be the final thesis adviser.
• Make up any course work deficiencies in the SFSU department and/or MLML. Students must take the following courses: MSCI 304 (MS 104), Quantitative Marine Science, and three of the following five prerequisite courses needed for fully classified graduate status:

  MSCI 303 (MS 103) Marine Ecology
  MSCI 341 (MS 141) Geological Oceanography
  MSCI 342 (MS 142) Physical Oceanography
  MSCI 343 (MS 143) Chemical Oceanography
  MSCI 344 (MS 144) Biological Oceanography

  Note that Moss Landing Marine Laboratories course catalog numbers are listed in parentheses (MS) following the SFSU course catalog numbers, which are preceded by MSCI. A complete list of MSCI courses and their equivalent MS course numbers is provided at the end of this section.

  These courses should be completed by the end of the third semester; they may be waived by the graduate committee upon certification that equivalent courses have been satisfactorily completed. MSCI 304 (MS 104) cannot be counted towards the 30-unit degree requirement.

• Students who do not receive a grade of "B" or better in the courses described above taken at MLML, or who wish to substitute equivalent courses taken elsewhere, regardless of the grade(s) received, must petition to have the courses accepted or take an examination given by the faculty at MLML. The examination will substitute for any equivalent examination given by the SFSU home department.

Program

A student becomes eligible for the master's degree in marine science after the following requirements have been satisfied:

1. The student has been advanced to candidacy.
2. The student has satisfied MLML's requirements for the degree.
3. The student has completed the following curriculum requirements:
1. A minimum total of fifteen required units of 200-level courses, including two units of MS 285, MS 286, or MS 287, and four units of MS 299.
2. Courses numbered 100 or above as approved by the thesis committee to total 30 units when added to graduate units. Following is a list of elective courses which may be used to satisfy requirements for the major.
4. The student must have submitted a thesis approved by the thesis advisory committee. The thesis must conform to the rules set forth by the Graduate Division at SFSU.
5. The student must successfully give an oral thesis defense, to include an open seminar presentation of thesis material, and a defense before the thesis advisory committee.

Students may request information and application materials by calling the MLML at (831) 632-4400 or by e-mailing MLML at frontdesk@mlml.calstate.edu.

Course List